Collapsible tower



,Apu-iE 9, i929. A. K. A| LEN coLLAPsIBLE TOWER Filed June 29, 1927 4 vSheets-Sheet www A. K. ALLENl coLLAPsIBLE TOWER Filed June 29, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet IN EN TOR.

Apn 9, i929. A. K. ALLEN coLLAPsIBLE TOWER Filed June 29; 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

pri 9, 1929. A. K. ALLEN COLLAPSIBLE TOWER Filed June 29, 1927 4 Sheets-.Sheet 4 Patented pr. 9, i929.

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ConLAPsIBLn TOWER.,

Application filed .Tune 29, 1927'.

This invention relates to new and useful improvcments in towers, and particularly to collapsible towers.

One object. of the invention is to provide a tower which is capable of being elevated to a great height to permit Vpersons to escape from the upper stories of a burning building.

Another object is to provide a -device of this character whichv is capable of being rotated so that it may be properly positioned with relation to the windows of the building, regardless of the position ofthe base of the tower, in the street below.

A. further objectis to provide bridges or run'ivays, on the upper Vend of the tower, which 'may be readily thrown out to the windows of the building, for the persons to' -cscape from the building.

A further object is toprevide novel means for bracing the tower after the saine has been elevated, whereby to prevent Vcollapse thereof.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the folloi'ving description when taken in connection with the accompanying dra'i'vings. I

ln the drawings: c

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tower in partly elevated position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View through the upper portion of the tower, onv

the line 3 3 of Figure 2, one of the bridges being in extended position.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 1, showing the operating mechanism at thebase of the tower.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail view through one of the drums 34, on the line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional detail view on the line 6 6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

Referring particularly to the accompanying drawings, 10 representsa wheeled sup port, which is in the form of a portable truck. Supported on .the truck is a turntable 11, and supported on said turntable is the lower end of the tower, represented as a whole by the numeral 12. This tower is in the form oi lazy-tongs, and includes the beams 13, which are secured tothe turntable, and to one side of the lower end of the tower, andthe slidable beams 14, which are secured to the other side of the lower end of the tower, for movement longitudinally past the beams 13. These sei-iai No. 202,305.

beams 13 andl 14 are secured respectivelyto `the transverse beams 15 and 16, forming a part ofthe lower end of the tower. In the beam 15 there is formed an opening, Vand se'- c'ured to the beam outwardly of the opening an internally threaded member 17. The beam 16 is also formed with a c'c'nt-ralopening, and secured in covering relation thereto is a centrally apertured plate 18. f Swiveled in the plate 18 is a threaded rod 19,*the other end of which is screwed into the member 17, the first named end of said rod being provided with a crank handle 2O by means of which the rod may be rotated, for the purpose of elevating and lowering the lazy-tongs. Upon. rotating the rod 19 .in one direction, the beams 15 and 16 will be drawn toward each other, with the result that the elements of the lazy-tongs will be actuatedy ,to rise above the truck, and upon rotation of t-he rod in the opposite direction such beams will be moved away from each other whereby to cause the collapse of the lazy-tongs, and the lowering of the Ytower. On the inner faces 'of the sideI members 22, of the lazy-tongs are grooved wheels 23, and engaged with said wheels are the cables 24, the lower ends of which are secured to, and arranged t'o be wound on the shaft mounted in the turn- 7 table. A crank handle is provided on one end of the shaft Q5, for the purpose of turning the same to render the cables taut or loose, as the occasion may require. Zhen in taut condition the cables serve to properly brace the elements'of the lazy-tongs, and hold the same against accidental collapse'. These cables may, however, be used to elevate the tower, if desired, irrespective of the screw rod 19.

@n the upper end of the tower is a platform 26, and slidabl'e on each end of the platform is a bridge 27. Each bridge has collapsible side rails 28, and connected to the inner end of each side rail is one end of a cable 29, the other end of which passes downwardly through an opening 30, in the platform, around a pulley 31, and is connected with a vertical rotatable shaft 3Q. A handle or wheel 33 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 3Q, whereby such shaft may be rotated to draw up on ther cables, and more properly support the bridge in its extended position. Mounted on the platform are two winding drums 3l and 35, and wound in opposite directions on each drum are cables 36 and 37. The'other end of the cable 36 is secured to/he outer end oi?A the .Y persons escaping froma building', through a window,the fireman, onthe platform turns lthe handwheel oo to render the cables 29 taut, so that the bridge will be more'securely held.r

in horizontal position, for supporting the weightof the persons passing thereover.

, frame 38 is erected on the intermediate portion of the platform, and secured to the upper portion of this frame are pulleys 39, over which pass the ropes 4:0 and ll, the former of which carries a basket, into which the escaping persons enter to be lowered down through the center of the tower, to the ground. The other cable is adapted to be used for elevating or drawing the nozzle of a hose up to the platform for use by the fireman, to direct a stream of* Water onto the burning'building. It will be understood that chemical apparatus mayialso be carried on the platform, so that the fireman may enteran upper story of a building and use the same on a fire which might be too small torequire the employment of the hose.

Vhile I have shown the rod 19 for raising and lowering tlievtower, it will be understood that anyother means may be employed, such as an hydraulic mechanism, an electric or motor, or the like.

Any suitable means may be employed for rotating the turntable, such as the worm gear 42, illustrated in the drawings, or Aa motor may be used to rotate the same. y

ldlhile I have shown and described the tower as adapted for use in connection with fire runway slida'bly supported bythe platform,

anv upright on the platform, hand-rails on the bridge runway adapted to collapse when the runway is withdrawn, a cable connected with the said upright and extending along and con-V nected with the upper portion of each hand* rail, means for extending and withdrawing the bridge, a vertically disposed drum on the platform adjacent the inner end of each hand-rail, a ratchet winding staff associated with each drum, and a cable connected with the upper portion of the inner end of each of the hand-rails and with a drinn and arranged to be wound on said drum whereby to p ere form the actions of a guy for maintaining the bridgefrigidly in extended portion. n

In testimony whereof, I anpix my signature.

Y ALVAH- Kp; ALLEN. 

